Airlines have either stated their plans or resumed flying to Israel and its main gateway, Tel Aviv, as Israel and Gaza’s leadership, Hamas, have negotiated a cease-fire agreement that will take effect January 19.
Wizz Air’s return to Israel
Wizz Air was among the first major European airlines to return to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), Israel’s primary gateway. The low-cost carrier resumed flights on numerous routes in recent days, while others remained operational for weeks.
On January 15, Wizz Air, including its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Malta, resumed flights from Athens Airport (ATH), Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP), London Luton Airport (LTN), Vienna Airport (VIE), and Vilnius Airport (VNO), on flights W47512, W62325, W43257, W95301, W42811, and W61965.
Flights W64427 from Sofia Airport (SOF), W46403 from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), W62097 from Krakow John Paul II International Airport (KRK), W46043 from Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO), and W61559 from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) all had purple aircraft that touched down in Tel Aviv on January 16.
On January 16, flight 5W7085 from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Tel Aviv was also run by the airline’s Abu Dhabi-based affiliate. Since the truce announcement, Wizz Air and its subsidiaries from all around Europe and the Middle East have started operating flights again from Israel to 12 destinations.
According to Flightradar24’s records, the budget airline also started operating regularly again on December 20 from Larnaca International Airport (LCA) to the Israeli city. The 13 locations that Wizz Air flew to from Tel Aviv on January 15 and 16 are shown on the map below.
At the same time, Wizz Air previously stated that it would resume flights to Israel in January in its half-year fiscal period financial results report. On November 7, 2024, Wizz Air’s CEO, József Váradi, said that its operations in Tel Aviv would be discontinued until mid-January.
The extra capacity had been transferred across its network, with a focus on route densification, and the airline was still monitoring the region’s security situation, Váradi said at the time.
Lufthansa’s planned return and Ryanair’s full summer schedule
On January 16, the Lufthansa Group published a brief statement announcing that it had chosen to resume flights to Tel Aviv. As a result, its passenger carriers will begin operating flights to Israel on February 1.
“The already decided suspension of Lufthansa Group flights to and from Tehran up to and including February 14 remains in place. Lufthansa Group Airlines will not fly to Beirut up to and including February 28.”
Cirium’s Diio Mi airline planning system revealed that in January, airlines, including domestic carriers such as EL AL, planned 758 weekly flights, providing 142,775 weekly seats to travelers flying from/to Tel Aviv.
In February, weekly flights will grow by 854, or 12.7% month on month (MoM). Several carriers, including airBaltic, Austrian carriers, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, Royal Air Maroc, Transavia, and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), aim to resume operations after having no flights in January.
Six of the ten belong to the Germany-based firm, including ITA Airways, which is in the process of merging with Lufthansa firm.
Meanwhile, when asked by Simple Flying, a Ryanair spokeswoman cited earlier statements made by Eddie Wilson, Ryanair’s CEO. In an interview with Reuters, Wilson stated that, while the airline follows the recommendations of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Ryanair will return to the country shortly.
The CEO stated that the low-cost carrier group has a full summer schedule prepared for flights to Tel Aviv, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) summer season beginning on March 30.
According to Flightradar24’s flight records, some airlines, including Aegean Airlines and Air Europa, have been serving Tel Aviv for several weeks.
The Greek carrier restarted services to Israel in December, with the exception of flight A3920, which began on January 16, while Air Europa has been flying to Tel Aviv since February 2024, with a brief interruption between September 28, 2024 and October 21, 2024.
Active CZIB
However, EASA’s most recent conflict zone information bulletin (CZIB) for Israel’s airspace, issued on November 29, 2024, remains operational until January 31.
The alert, which applies to all operators, said that while Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon, had reached a cease-fire, “the overall situation in the Middle East region remains volatile and should be closely monitored by operators.”
“EASA recommends air operators to implement a stringent monitoring process and risk assessment for each flight when intending to operate within the airspace of Israel.”
According to a statement made by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel and Hamas struck a ceasefire agreement on January 15 that included the exchange of hostages and prisoners. The ceasefire will take effect on January 19.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when the latter’s fighters launched an attack on the former, murdering over 1,200 civilians, including international nationals.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the ongoing armed confrontation in Gaza has killed 46,645 Palestinians as of January 14. The OCHA listed the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH) as its data source.
In response to the bombings and the subsequent war, airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines canceled all flights to Israel. As a result, Ben Gurion International lost up to 64% of its weekly traffic in November 2023 compared to the same month the year before.
FAQ
Which airlines resumed service to Tel Aviv Airport after the ceasefire announcement?
Several major airlines have resumed flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport following the announcement of a ceasefire. These airlines include international carriers such as El Al, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines, as well as others from various regions.
Why did airlines stop operating flights to Tel Aviv before the ceasefire?
Many airlines halted flights to Tel Aviv during the conflict between Israel and Gaza due to security concerns. The escalating violence and the risk of missile strikes on airport infrastructure led to temporary suspensions of service.
What impact did the ceasefire have on airline operations in Israel?
The announcement of the ceasefire brought a sense of stability to the region, prompting airlines to resume flights to Tel Aviv. The ceasefire alleviated safety concerns and reassured airlines that operations could proceed with lower risk.
How are passengers affected by the resumption of flights to Tel Aviv?
Passengers traveling to and from Tel Aviv may now experience more flight options and improved travel conditions following the ceasefire. However, travelers should remain vigilant and stay informed about any changes in flight schedules or travel advisories from airlines and authorities.
Are there any restrictions or changes in flight services to Tel Aviv after the ceasefire?
Although airlines have resumed services to Tel Aviv, some may have implemented temporary restrictions on flight schedules, including reduced frequencies or limited services on certain routes. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight availability and travel guidelines.
